New Hampshire Has Issues

The issue so many Granite Staters (and beyond) have asked about: why isn't marijuana legalized in New Hampshire? The ::checks notes:: "Live Free or Die" state? Devon Chaffee (Executive Director at ACLU-NH) joins Liz to explain just how close New Hampshire has gotten to legalizing cannabis...and why it will probably take some time to get over the finish line.  Devon brings  numbers t...

Celebrity guest! Liz asks Sam Evans-Brown to do some heavy lifting as Liz learned zero things about anything "energy" related in high school. As much as Liz hates change, it's time to learn a little bit. Tune in to get answers to questions like, "What's a watt?" and "What kind of outlet do you need for an electric vehicle?" and "Is Massachusetts doing t...

The New Hampshire Executive Council has enormous power and almost no name recognition. What the [bleep] is it? And why does New Hampshire have it? In this episode, Kayla Montgomery (VP of Public Affairs at Planned Parenthood New Hampshire Action Fund and Planned Parenthood of Northern New England) returns to the pod to tell Liz an abbreviated history of the Executive Council. Liz references multip...

Grab your passport! We're traveling to...your town clerk's office. New Hampshire *loves* elections, but does it love helping eligible voters get registered to vote?  In this episode, Liz talks to McKenzie Taylor, the State Director of the New Hampshire Campaign for Voting Rights, about registering in person, voting in person, requesting to vote absentee in person...yet, they are able to...

Liz talks with Rep. Hope Damon about what is happening with the school district, which faces a multi-million dollar deficit in its school budget - and what the State of New Hampshire can / will / will not do, depending on who you ask... This episode was recorded on August 28, 2025. New episodes every Tuesday. Become a supporter of the show. Have an idea for an upcoming episode? Email Liz: newhamps...

Liz talks with Matt Mooshian, a former City Councilor from Claremont, about what is happening with the school district, which faces a multi-million dollar deficit in its school budget.  This episode was recorded on August 28, 2025. New episodes every Tuesday. Become a supporter of the show. Have an idea for an upcoming episode? Email Liz: newhampshirehasissues@gmail.com Links : Support Claremont s...

What happens in Claremont doesn't stay in Claremont - and instead impacts all of us. In this teaser (with a full episode coming soon!), Liz talks to Rep. Hope Damon about the school funding crisis in Claremont...and beyond. Full episode coming soon. New episodes on Tuesdays. Become a supporter of the show Have an idea for an upcoming episode? Email Liz: newhampshirehasissues@gmail.com Links:...

Don't be fooled: a Medicaid by any other name would smell as sweet - because it's health insurance!  In this episode, Liz and Kristine Stoddard (health care super nerd/wonk) cover what Medicaid really is (health insurance!) and what the impacts will be on *all* of Granite Staters...due to a majority of New Hampshire lawmakers' actions.  Liz uses many analogies in this episode (inclu...

Is there really an issue of homelessness in New Hampshire? Like... everywhere in New Hampshire? Yes, yes there is. Liz is joined by Erica Diamond and Lauren Bombardier from Families In Transition to talk about homelessness, which is affecting so many of our community members.  Erica and Lauren explain to Liz that homelessness is a result of a lack of affordable housing and a lack of social support...

Comments about immigration are all over social media, in politicians' speeches, and in politicians' social media...but what is actually happening? In this episode, Liz talks with Grace Kindeke about some of the myths circulating about immigration, including crime, social services, and higher education.  New episodes every Tuesday. Become a supporter of the show. Have an idea for an upcom...

We can all agree: New Hampshire has issues, but...do Maine and Vermont also have issues? What is it like to be the CEO of a Planned Parenthood affiliate across three (somewhat) different states?  Liz talks to Nicole Clegg, CEO of Planned Parenthood of Northern New England, about the "defunding" of Planned Parenthood, what the words "budget reconciliation" mean, and some signs i...

In Part 1, Liz and Phil Sletten (NH Fiscal Policy Institute) talked about the intentional cuts lawmakers made when it comes to revenues - and now, in part 2, they cover the choices New Hampshire lawmakers made in how money will (and will not) be spent. Links : Committee of Conference Budget Nearly Matches Senate Version on Spending, Trims Retirement and University System Appropriations (NHFPI) NHF...

Is everyone talking about the New Hampshire state budget? Well, if they aren't, they should be, as the budget impacts literally everyone in New Hampshire. In this part 1 episode, Liz and Phil Sletten (Research Director at the New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute) talk about what the heck a state budget is, how it is similar to - and very different from - a household budget, and how state rev...

Why are people “suddenly” talking about transgender people? And books? And bathrooms? What does this have to do with New Hampshire? In this episode, Liz and Heidi Carrington Heath (Executive Director of New Hampshire Outright) cover some of the frequently asked questions they've gotten about LGBTQ+ folks, especially transgender individuals and young people.   Liz asks Heidi her favorite comin...

The Democratic Leader of the NH Senate, Rebecca Perkins Kwoka, joins Liz to talk about the choices the NH Senate made this year (and lawmakers have made over the past ~decade), and how they will impact everyday Granite Staters...and the benefits given to those who have something called "portfolios."  Liz asks RPK if she watches Severance and RPK asks Liz to remind her not to burn the sal...

How free are Education Freedom Accounts in New Hampshire? Why do some people call them school vouchers?  Liz asks Christina why this funding is being prioritized when other services are needed, and Christina asks Liz for a little time to draft a tagline. Become a supporter of the show Have an idea for an upcoming episode? Email Liz: newhampshirehasissues@gmail.com This episode pairs well with the...

Episode ingredients: 90% chocolate, 10% tariffs. Made in the USA. Liz asks Enna Grazier (a friendly local chocolate maker) what to say about tariffs if someone wants to call the governor, and Enna asks Liz the same thing.  New episodes every Tuesday. Become a supporter of the show Have an idea for an upcoming episode? Email Liz: newhampshirehasissues@gmail.com Links: Enna Chocolate on Instagram 5...

It's not your imagination: affordable housing is on almost everyone's mind in New Hampshire. Renters, homeowners, and...well, everyone: this episode is for you.  Liz asks Nick why we can't just build more houses and Nick reminds Liz that running downhill is bad for the knees. New episodes every Tuesday. Become a supporter of the show Have an idea for an upcoming episode? Email Liz:...

The Democratic Leader of the NH House, Alexis Simpson, joins Liz to talk about how a bill becomes a law in New Hampshire - a very unique process because, well, it's New Hampshire. Liz asks Alexis how much money state reps make in NH, and Alexis reminds Liz what social media platforms exist. New episodes every Tuesday. Become a supporter of the show Have an idea for an upcoming episode? Email...

If the state says you have to do something that costs $20,000, but the state only gives you $5,000...is that, well, adequate? Liz asks Zack if school funding is fair in New Hampshire and Zack reminds everyone that renters are also impacted by property taxes. Have an idea for the show? Email Liz: newhampshirehasissues@gmail.com Become a supporter of the show Links : New Hampshire School Funding Fai...

Childcare in New Hampshire: just as expensive as college, but without student loan options...and a potential 18-month wait time! Liz asks Kenz whether $5,000 is enough to resolve the childcare issue and Kenz asks Liz why people want to ban books. New episodes every Tuesday.  Links: MomsRising NH SB 243: the remaining bill in the NH legislature addressing childcare The Fragile Economics of the Chil...

Yes, we're in the "Live Free or Die" state, but somehow we don't have the right to abortion? Wait, that can't be right... Liz asks Kayla how this happened, and Kayla later asks Liz why this podcast even exists. New episodes every Tuesday. Links: Planned Parenthood NH Action Fund Linktree The "opposite" of the right to abortion in NH state law (The General Court o...

Introducing New Hampshire Has Issues - a podcast that dares to ask, how many issues can one state have?  In this sneak peek, Liz and Kayla talk about how, no, we actually don't have the right to abortion in New Hampshire. Spoiler alert. Full episodes coming in early May. Links: Website: New Hampshire Has Issues Instagram: New Hampshire Has Issues Topics for the show? Email Liz Support the sho...